‘Rahul Needs People Like Swara Bhasker Who...’ : BJP Hits Back As Congress Targets Kiccha Sudeepa

The BJP slammed the Congress over Randeep Singh Surjewala's insinuation that Kannada actor Kichcha Sudeepa agreed to campaign for the ruling party because of the fear of investigating agencies.

File photos: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with Actor Swara Bhasker during the party's 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', in Ujjain district on Dec. 1, 2022 | BJP National Spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia

Source : PTI

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Gaurav Bhatia on Saturday slammed the Congress over its allegation that Kannada actor Kichcha Sudeepa agreed to campaign for the ruling party ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in Karnataka because of the fear of investigating agencies. The BJP's Gaurav Bhatia questioned former Congress president Rahul Gandhi over actress Swara Bhasker's participation in the party's Bharat Jodo Yatra.

"The targeting of Kiccha Sudeepa I heard a Congress leader saying that it must be the fear of investigating agencies. If someone supports Congress, it is for the benefit of democracy. But if someone supports BJP, then it is the fear of investigating agencies. They also went on to say that BJP needs campaigners from outside," Gaurav Bhatia said.

"So I ask Rahul Gandhi, tell the nation why a person like Swara Bhasker who openly supported people working against the integrity of our country was seen with you during the Bharat Jodo yatra which was more of Bharat Todo Yatra," he added.

#WATCH | If someone supports Congress, it is for the benefit of democracy. But if someone supports BJP, then it is the fear of investigating agencies. Congress also said BJP needs people from outside for the campaigning...So I ask Rahul Gandhi, why during the Bharat Jodo yatra… pic.twitter.com/RnhH6DLq1F

— ANI (@ANI) April 8, 2023

He further remarked: "This means Rahul Gandhi does not have any charisma left, he needs people like Swara Bhasker who were supporting people chanting slogans against our country. There were stars like Riya Sen and Rashmi Desai. What were they doing in the Bharat Jodo Yatra?"

Randeep Surjewala's Insinuation Over Kichcha Sudeepa Agreeing To Campaign For BJP

The BJP's salvo was in response to Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala's tweet that read: "A Film Star is free to choose whom to support, sometimes by IT-ED or otherwise. Bankruptcy of BJP in Karnataka is clear. As no one turns up to listen to CM Bommai & BJP leaders, they now rely upon Film Stars to draw crowd. People, not Film Stars, will decide fate of Karnataka."

A Film Star is free to choose whom to support, sometimes by IT-ED or otherwise.

Bankruptcy of BJP in #Karnataka is clear.

As no one turns up to listen to CM Bommai & BJP leaders, they now rely upon Film Stars to draw crowd.

People, not Film Stars,will decide fate of Karnataka.

— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) April 5, 2023

This tweet perhaps refers to the 2019 income tax department raid on Kichcha Sudeepa where the central agency took action on him along with other popular Kannada actors like Yash and the late Puneeth Rajkumar. Sudeep had said that the IT raid was because of his mistake, as reported by the Hindustan Times.

Earlier, Kichcha Sudeepa said that he will not contest the Karnataka Elections for the BJP and he will only campaign for the saffron party, as reported by news agency ANI.

He dismissed the speculations of him joining the BJP and said that he is supporting Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, "I give my support to respected Bommai sir."

Reacting to this, CM Bommai said, "Sudeep doesn't belong to any political party. He has announced his support for me. His support for me also means that he is supporting the party (BJP)."